Apparatus for increasing the flow of water in artesian wells



June 30, 1942. E, D, EVERY 2,288,233

APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE FLOW OF WATER IN ARTESIAN WELLS Filed Nov.8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0 4; 2 35 "2/ J7 O I C I II. /5 r 9 l g l l 1i INVENTOR. BY fuwf/rfl. fvE/ry @Myflt ,4 TTOK/VEYS June 30, 1942. E. D.EVERY APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE FLOW OF WATER IN ARTESIAN WELLS FiledNov. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY ELMERD. EVERY (M #dfl" ATTORNEYSPatented June 30, 1942 azeazzn FATE Fries APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THEFLOW 6F WATER IN ARTESIAN WELLS Jersey Application November 8, 1944Serial No. 364,817

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for increasing theflow of water in artesian Wells by alternately creating a pressure andsuction in the region of the crevices in the subterranean strata throughwhich the water flows into the well so as to dislodge and remove therubble and agglomerate in the crevices to thereby clear the same ofobstructions which retard the flow of the water.

The invention broadly comprehends a method of increasing the flow ofwater in artesian wells which consists in sealing off the surface areaof a well above and below a localized area thereof and alternatelysubjecting said localized area to pressure and suction through the uppersealed off portion of the well so as to free and remove rubble andagglomerate from the crevices in the water bearing strata in saidlocalized area.

More particularly the invention resides in a method of increasing theflow of water in artsian wells which consists in sealing off the surfacearea of a well above and below a localized area thereof by introducing aported casing into the well in spaced relation to the wall thereof andwith the ported portion thereof in juxtaposition to the localized areathrough which the water enters the well and closing the surroundingspace between the casing and the wall of the well above and below theported portion of the casing and alternately creating pressure andsuction within the casing at the ported portion thereof to alternatelyforce fluid into the crevices in the localized area and to withdraw thesame therefrom so as to dislodge and remove the rubble and agglomerateWhich obstructs the free flow of the water through the crevices.

The invention is further directed to an apparatus for carrying out themethod which includes a casing of smaller diameter than the well whichis sealed at the lower end and formed intermediate its length with aported portion adapted to be disposed in juxtaposition to a localizedarea of the well through which water flows into the well and havingmeans above and below the ported portion adapted for expansion to closethe space between the casing and the wall of the well together withmeans adapted to be reciprocated within the casing adjacent the portedportion thereof for alternately creating pressure and suction to forcefluid under pressure into the crevices and the localized area and towithdraw the same therefrom so as to dislodge and remove the rubble andagglomerate thus clearing the crevices of the said material.

With these and other objects in view the invention is set forth ingreater detail in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through a wellillustrating the apparatus for increasing the fiow of water from thewell arranged therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view therethroughtaken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4.- is a vertical sectional view through the casing and through thevalved plunger arranged therein above the ported portion.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1,illustrating the apparatus arranged within the casing and screen sectionof a well having water bearing sand strata.

Referring to the drawings by characters of ref erence, A designates anartesian well which may be to any desired depth through rock or sandstrata, and the method of increasing the flow of the water in the wellconsists in sealing ofi the surface area thereof above and below alocalized area such as the annular area B and alternately subjecting thelocalized area B to pressure and suction through the upper sealed oilportion of the well so as to free and remove rubble and agglomerate fromthe crevices in the water bearing strata in said localized area.

[is illustrated, the surface area of the well above the localized area Bis sealed oii by means of an upper casing section 8 of lesser diameterthan the well which extends from above the ground surface to a pointadjacent the upper portion of the localized area B and with expansiblesealing means 9 surrounding the lower end of said casing section andadapted to be expanded into intimate contact with the surrounding wallof the well so as to close the space between the lower end of the saidcasing section and the wall of the well adjacent the localized area B.

The surface area of the well below the localized area B is sealed off bya lower casing section I!) of lesser diameter than the well which hasits lower end closed by a cap ll sealed thereto by welding or otherwisesecuring the same within the lower end thereof and the upper end of saidlower casing section is provided with an expansible sealing means 12which is adapted to be expanded into intimate contact with thesurrounding wall of the well so as to close the space between the upperend of the said lower casing section and the wall of the well adjacentto the lower portion of the said localized area B.

When the water bearing strata is of creviced rock formation, asillustrated in Fig. 1, a ported casing section I3 is provided at thelocalized area B between the upper and lower casing sections 8 and ID.The ported casing section preferably consists of circumferentiallyspaced longitudinally extending bars l4 which are welded or otherwisesecured at their opposite ends to the casing sections 8 and ID, thcircumferential space between the bars being sufficient to permit of thepassage therethrough of the rubble and agglomerate removed from thecrevices in the rock strata.

The eXpansible sealing means 9 and (2 each preferably consists of anexpansible cylindrical sleeve I6 of elastic material such as rubber orequivalent material which is disposed in surrounding relation with itscasing section between the same are embedded in the sleeve at the endsthereof and are anchored thereto by the vulcanization of the sleeve. Therings l8 are provided with circumferentially spaced studs l9 whichextend axially outward through the ends of the sleeve and throughannular gaskets and thence through apertures 2! in the flanges I"! withthe protruding threaded ends of the studs engaged by nuts 22 forclamping the gaskets 20 between the ends of the sleeve and the flangesH.

The sleeves l6 may be independently or simultaneously expanded from theretracted full line position shown in Fig. 2 to the expanded dotted lineposition shown therein and as illustrated in full lines in Fig, 1, bymeans of fluid pressure such as gas or liquid under pressure which isintroduced respectively through pipe lines 23 and 24 connected with asuitable source of supply. The pipe line 23 extends from the surfacedownwardly and opens into the upper sealing means 9 through the upperflange l7 thereof. The pipe line 24 extends downwardly through the upperand lower flanges ll of the upper sealing means 9 and thence openinginto the lower sealing means l6 through the upper flange I1 thereof. Byexpanding the sleeves [6 as illustrated in Fig. 1, the outer surfacesthereof are forced into intimate contact with the surrounding wall ofthe well so as to seal 01f the surface area of the well above and belowthe localized area B adjacent the ported casing section l3.

The pressure and suction at the localized area B are created by areciprocatory plunger designated generally by the reference character D,and which consists of a tubular core 2! having upper and lower end facesdefining valv seats 28 and 29. The core 2'! is exteriorly threaded atits opposite ends as at 30 and respectively receives thereover theinteriorly thread-ed rings 3| of the oppositely directed yokes 32 whichstraddle the opposite ends of the core and are locked in place by setscrews 33 engaging through the rings 3!. A plurality of packing rings 34are arranged in surrounding relation to the core 2'! and are clampedbetween metallic washers 35 by the tightening of the rings 3| towardseach other. The core 21 is formed with bearing spiders 3% within theopposite ends thereof to each of which is secured a fixed valve guidestem 3'! extendin axially outward therethrough and anchored at its outerextremity to the bight portion of the yoke.

Upper and lower valve disks 38 and 39 are re spectively mounted on theupper and lower valve guide stems 31 for engagement with the valve seats28 and 29. Each valve disk is normally urged into engagement with itsseat by means of a coiled expansion spring 49 which is interposedbetween the yoke and an outer plate 4| of the valve disk. The upper yokehas secured to and extending upwardly therefrom a coupling stud 43provided with an upwardly tapered threaded terminal 43 which is engagedby the downwardly flared threaded socket 44 of a reciprocatory plungerstem 45 adapted to be connected at its upper end to any suitableapparatus for raising and lowering the plunger such as a portabledrilling rig. The stems 45 depend from the drilling rig into the uppercasing section 8 with the plunger D located in the casing above theported casing section I3 and with the packing rings 34 snugly engagingthe wall of the upper casing section 8.

In order to adjustably limit the opening movement of the valve disks,set screws 45 extend through the bight portions of the yokes 33 forengagement with the outer plates 4| of the valve disks. Set screws 41selectively engage through a series of vertically spaced threadedopenings 48 in the side arms of the yokes and are adapted to engage theinner face of the valve disks and cooperate with the set screws 46 toadjustably lock the same in open relation to the Valve seats.

The assembled casing sections are suspended within the well by means ofa split collar 50 clamped around the upper section and having radialarms 5| spanning the mouth of the well and engaging with the groundsurface. In practice, the ported casing section [3 is positioned atsuccessive locations in the well throughout the water bearing stratawhich is accomplished by adjusting the upper casing section withreference to the collar 50. The lower casing section In constitutes areceptacle in which is deposited the rubble and agglomerate entering thecasing through the ported casing section l3.

The plunger D may be periodically withdrawn from the casing and therubble and agglomerate which have been deposited in the lower casingsection l0 may then be removed by means of a bailer (not shown).

In operation, after the sinking of a well, the casing assemblage issuspended therein and the split collar 50 secured thereto to positionthe ported casing section in juxtaposition to any water bearing stratumof the well. The sleeves l6 of the sealing means 9 and I2 are then expanded to close the space between the lower and the upper ends of thecasing sections 8 and I0 respectively and the wall of the casing tothereby seal the surface areas of the well above and below the waterbearing stratum which in this instance is the localized area. If thewater in the well is not of sufficient height to maintain a head abovethe ported casing section, additional water is pumped into the well toobtain the desired head. The plunger is then lowered into the uppercasing section and connected by the stem 45 to a drilling rig (notshown) to position the plunger for reciprocation therein above theported casing section.

The plunger may be operated in various ways to alternately force waterinto and withdraw the same from the strata crevices. This may beaccomplished by locking the lower valve disk 39 in open relation andsetting the upper valve disk 38 in restricted partially opened relationso that on the down stroke the plunger operating under a head of waterand with the weight of the stem 45' forcing the same downward, pressurewill be created below the valve disk 38 to force the water below theplunger through the ported casing section [3 and into the crevices. Onthe up stroke of the plunger, a quantity of the water in the head abovethe plunger will pass through the uppermost valve but since the valve isonly in partially opened relation, a suction will be created below theplunger to withdraw water from the crevices. The pressure produced bythe down stroke of the plunger tends to expand and enlarge the crevicesand to loosen the rubble and agglomerate therein, while the up strokewill withdraw the rubble and agglomerate from the crevices and throughthe ported casing section I3, whereupon the same will be deposited intothe bottom of the casing. The plunger may also be set with both of thevalve disks 38 and 39 secured in closed relation upon their seats andwhen so positioned the plunger alternately produces a compression andsuction of the water below the piston and in the crevices of the stratain the region of the ported casing section.

In some instances it is found desirable to enlarge the crevices in thestrata by forcing air into the crevices, or in the event that the stratais of a material which requires chemical action to open up the crevicestherein, acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrofloric acid or sulphuricacid may be inserted in the casing and the plunger operated to forcesuch fluids into the crevices of the strata. When employing such fluids,the plunger may be set with the upper valve disk 38 locked in openrelation and the lower valve disk 39 normally retained against its seatby the spring 45 to operate as a check valve upon upward movement of theplunger and to close and operate as a piston upon downward movementthereof. When the valves of the plunger are thus set, the fluid such asair under pressure, or any of the aforesaid acids will pass through theplunger on the up stroke thereof and on its down stroke the valve disk39 will close and force the fluid below the plunger through the portedcasing section and into the crevices of the stratum. By repeatedreciprocations of the plunger, any quantity of the said fluids or watermay be forced into the crevices.

The operation may then be continued by successively positioning theported casing section in different locations in the well and thecrevices r" cleared of the rubble and agglomerate by the operation ofthe plunger and by the use of the fluids as previously described. Thismay be repeated until the entire water bearing strata has been actedupon to clear the crevices of the rubble and agglomerate. During theoperation or after the entire portion of the water bearing strata hasbeen acted upon to increase the-flow of the water, the plunger may bewithdrawn and set with the lower valve disk 39 secured in open closelyfit the wall of the well and the screen section is provided withopenings of a size which prevent the entrance into the well of thelarger sand particles, while permitting the free entrance of the waterinto the well. The apparatus is emplaced within the well casing andscreen section, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and operates in the mannerpreviously described.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for increasing the flow of water in a well including acasing of lesser diameter than the well and adapted to be positionedtherein, said casing including an upper section extending from above theground surface to a point adjacent to the upper portion of a localizedarea of the water bearing strata of said well, a lower section having aclosed lower end and an open upper end disposed adjacent to the lowerportion of said localized area and defining a receptacle within thelower section, and an intermediate ported section located at saidlocalized area and secured at its opposite ends to the adjacent ends ofsaid upper and lower sections respectively, expansible sleevessurrounding the lower end of said upper section and the upper end of thelower section respectively, means connecting and sealing the oppositeends of said sleeves to the casing sections respectively, means forconveying fluid to the space between the said sleeves and the casingsrespectively for expanding the sleeves into intimate contact with thesurrounding wall of the well for closing off the space between the lowerend of the upper casing and the upper end of the lower casing and thewall of the well adjacent said localized area, and plunger means adaptedfor reciprocation within the upper casing section under a fluid headtherein for exerting pressure and suction in the ported portion of thecasing and in the localized area of the well to force fluid into thecrevices in the strata of the localized area and to withdraw the sametherefrom so as to dislodge and remove rubble and agglomerateobstructing the free flow of the water through the crevices forcollection of the rubble and agglomerate within the lower casingsection.

2. Apparatus for increasing the flow of water in a well including acasing comprising an upper section, a lower section having a closedlower end and a ported section consisting of spaced bars secured attheir opposite ends to the confronting ends of the upper and lowersections and providing narrow elongated openings in communication withthe interior of the upper and lower sections and through which openingsthe rubble and agglomerate from the crevices in water bearing strata isadapted to pass, means disposed in surrounding relation with the upperand lower sections for closing the space between the casing and the wallof the well above and below said ported section, and plunger meansadapted to be reciprocated within the casing above the ported sectionfor creating pressure and suction at the openings therein and in thecrevices of the water bearing strata of the well adjacent said portedsection for freeing and removing rubble and agglomerate from saidcrevices through the openings in said ported section.

3. Apparatus for increasing the flow of water in a well including acasing comprising an upper section, a lower section having a closedlower end and disposed in spaced relation to the upper section, spacedbars secured at their opposite ends to the confronting ends of the upperand lower sections providing with the sections narrow elongated portscommunicating with the interior of the upper and lower sections andthrough which ports the rubble and agglomerate from the crevices inwater bearing strata is adapted to pass, expansible elastic meansdisposed in surrounding relation with the upper and lower sections ofthe casing for sealing off the space between the casing and the wall ofthe well above and below said ports, means for conducting fluid pressureto said expansible elastic means for expanding the same into engagementwith the wall of the well and a plunger adapted to be reciprocated inthe upper portion of the casing under a head of fluid for subjecting thecrevices of the water bearing strata of the well adjacent said ports topressure and suction for freeing and removing rubble and agglomeratefrom said crevices through said ports.

4. Apparatus for increasing the flow of water in a well including acasing comprising an upper all) section, a lower section and a portedsection connected at its opposite ends to the confronting ends of theupper and lower sections and consisting of spaced bars providing narrowelongated openings in communication With the interior of the upper andlower sections and through which openings the rubble and agglomeratefrom the crevices in water bearing strata is adapted to pass, meansdisposed in surrounding relation with the upper and lower sections forclosing the space between the casing and the wall of the well above andbelow said ported section, and plunger means adapted to be reciprocatedwithin the casing above the ported section for creating pressure andsuction at the openings therein and in the crevices of the water bearingstrata of the well adjacent said ported section for freeing and removingrubble and agglomerate from said crevices through the openings in saidported section.

ELMER D. EVERY

